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Even all unformed as she was, one could see the woman that would ripen. She was dressed in the same dark red as her mother, and it was a surprise to Ian how well the color suited them both. Of course, Alinor's dark hair was hidden under her gold wimple, and mother and daughter both had the same very white skin, but the dark red seemed to make Alinor's eyes glow gold and deepen the gray of Joanna's to a blazing blue. Impulsively, the child ran to Ian, and he embraced her and kissed her, suffering as he held her a total reversal of his eagerness to make contract for her marriage. It did not seem to Ian that any man would ever be good enough to deserve Joanna. |
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He was saved from voicing any such idiocy by Adam's indignant demand for attention. Ian released Joanna, who went to her mother to have her dress twitched and patted into more perfect folds. Adam, except for the jewels that bedecked Ian, was a small version of his stepfather. In fact, with his dark hair and changeable eyes, he could more easily have been taken for Ian's son than for Simon's. With Adam, Ian wasted no time on praise. The boy was as fine as a cockatoo and knew it. |
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"Stand," Ian ordered. "Now turn. Yes. Hitch that sword more forward so the hilt is readier to your hand. Let me see you take it. Quicker. Grab the scabbard with the left. Higher. So. Draw. So. Now let me see" |
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"Ian," Alinor warned, "do not you dare kneel." |
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He laughed. "You see how much better it is. I had forgot for the moment. Owain, you are the taller. Kneel to him for me. Yes. Let me see you touch him with the point, Adam. Gently! Very well. Sheath. Thank you, Owain. You and Geoffrey had better go and dress and be quick about it. I want to see you before you start to serve. Adam, come here." |
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"Do not bother to go down," Alinor said to the squires. "There are new garments for you both in the chamber opposite and Gertrude and Ethelburga will |
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